Annie Rowlands

Annie Rowlands (1846?-?*) was a young South African actress of the mid to late 19th Century.

Also found as Miss Rowlands

Biography

The daughter of W. Rowlands, a clothes merchant in Shortmarket Street (and later a law agent), who trained his daughter and had her appear on stage at twelve years of age in 1858. She may possibly also have been related to Master Rowlands, active in Cape Town in 1864.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Groom (1899-1900) refers to her as "a local phenomenon" and an acclaimed performer.

After her first(?) appearance in the Harrington Street Theatre, on 21 October, 1858, under the patronage of the Cape Town Dramatic Club, she apparently went on to perform as an amateur for two seasons - 1858-1859 and 1860-1861, appearing in other evenings arranged by the Cape Town Dramatic Club among others, and on 12 November 1860 the Club presented a benefit performance for her. .

Rowlands later turned professional and her many roles included "Betsy" in Betsy Baker!, or Too Attentive by Half (Morton), Not a Bad Judge , or Lavater, the Physiognomist (Planché)

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 82, 91, 124-128, 145-156, 165-179, 269.

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

William Groom. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. Cape Illustrated Magazine, 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities R

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page